A Short History of the French Revolution; Seventh Edition

A Short History of the French Revolution is an up-to-date survey of the French Revolution and Napoleonic era that introduces readers to the origins and events of this turbulent period in French history, and historians’ interpretations of these events. The book covers all aspects of the Revolution, including the political, social, and cultural origins of the Revolution, and its causes, events, and aftermath, to provide readers with a full, and yet concise, overview of the Revolution that helps them easily understand the key elements of the subject. Fully updated and revised, this new edition allows students to engage with the most current work on the subject with increased attention given to women’s role in the Revolution, full coverage of the struggles over race and slavery, a new emphasis on the populist element in revolutionary politics, and an expanded discussion of the historiography of the era. Supported by learning objectives, critical thinking questions, and suggestions for further reading, this is the perfect introduction to the French Revolution for students of French and European History in the late eighteenth century. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Title 4 Copyright 5 Contents 6 List of Images 10 List of Figures 12 List of Documents 14 Preface to the Seventh Edition 16 1 The Origins of the French Revolution 20 The Problems of the Monarchy 21 The Failure of Reform 26 Social Structure and Social Crisis 28 The Third Estate 31 The Lower Classes 33 New Ideas and New Ways of Living 37 The Growth of Public Opinion 39 Critical Thinking Questions 42 2 The Collapse of the Absolute Monarchy, 1787–1789 43 The Prerevolution 44 The Assembly of Notables 45 From Failed Reforms to Revolutionary Crisis 47 The Meeting of the Estates-General 48 The Parliamentary Revolution 54 The Storming of the Bastille 56 Critical Thinking Questions 60 3 The Revolutionary Rupture, 1789–1790 61 The Experience of Revolution 61 The “Abolition of Feudalism” and the Declaration of Rights 62 The Constitutional Debates 70 The October Days 72 The Expropriation of Church Lands and the Assignats 76 The Civil Constitution of the Clergy 78 Critical Thinking Questions 80 4 The Defeat of the Liberal Revolution, 1790–1792 81 The New Political Culture 82 The King’s Flight and the Crisis of 1791 84 The End of the National Assembly 86 The Legislative Assembly 88 The Revolt in Saint-Domingue and Unrest at Home 90 The Move toward War 91 The Impact of War 94 The Overthrow of the Monarchy 95 Emergency Measures and Revolutionary Government 97 The Failure of the Liberal Revolution 98 Critical Thinking Questions 101 5 The Convention and the Radical Republic, 1792–1794 102 The Trial of the King 103 Mounting Tensions 106 The Victory of the Montagnards 107 Terror Becomes the Order of the Day 109 The Dictatorship of the Committee of Public Safety 114 Revolutionary Culture 117 The Radical Revolution and the Social Order 119 The Great Terror and Thermidor 121 The Revolution Victorious 124 Thermidor 125 Critical Thinking Questions 126 6 The Return to Order, 1794–1799 128 The “Bourgeois Republic” and the Search for Order 128 The Thermidorian Reaction 129 The Defeat of the Sans-Culottes 130 Counterrevolution and the Constitution of 1795 131 The Directory 134 The Directory, Europe, and the Colonies 137 The “Politics of the Balance” 142 The “Second Directory” 143 The Fall of the Directory 145 Critical Thinking Questions 146 7 The Napoleonic Consulate, 1799–1804 147 The Consul and the Consulate 148 Napoleon’s Career 149 The Institutions of the Consulate 151 Consolidation of Power 152 The Peace of Amiens and the Concordat 154 Elements of Opposition 158 Critical Thinking Questions 160 8 The Napoleonic Empire, 1804–1815 162 The Resumption of War 164 From Ulm to Tilsit 165 The Continental System 167 The Empire at Home 167 The Social Bases of the Empire 170 Culture under the Empire 173 The Decline of the Empire 175 The Invasion of Russia 176 The Hundred Days 178 Critical Thinking Questions 179 9 The Revolutionary Heritage 180 The Postrevolutionary Settlement 181 State and Nation 182 The Revolution’s Impact in the World 183 The French Revolution as History 184 The Jacobin Historical Synthesis 186 The Revisionist Critique 188 Postrevisionist Studies of the Revolution 189 Critical Thinking Questions 195 Appendix: Chronology of Principal Events During the French Revolution 196 Prerevolutionary Crisis (January 1, 1787–May 5, 1789) 196 The Liberal Revolution (May 5, 1789–August 10, 1792) 197 The Radical Revolution (August 10, 1792–July 27, 1794) 198 The Thermidorian and Directory Periods (July 27, 1794–November 9, 1799) 199 The Napoleonic Period (November 9, 1799–June 18, 1815) 200 Suggestions for Further Reading 202 Journals and Reference Works 202 Specialized Titles: Select Bibliography 203 Index 209 This concise survey of the French Revolution and Napoleonic period offers an alternative to the long, detailed texts more suited to advanced study. Author Jeremy D. Popkin introduces readers to the major events that comprise the story of the French Revolution, to the different ways in which historians have interpreted them, to the political, social, and cultural origins of the Revolution, and to the latest methodological approaches. Beginning with the prerevolutionary crisis, Popkin leads readers through the dramatic events that led to the storming of the Bastille in 1789. Along the way, he discusses the effort to create a constitutional regime, the collapse of the new constitution, and the overthrow of the monarchy. This newly revised edition provides expanded discussion of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen and the king's trial. In addition, A Short History of the French Revolution: explores the Jacobin dictatorship and the Reign of Terror; examines the search for stability under the Directory; features in-depth coverage of Napoleon's Consulate and Empire; and looks at the long-term consequences of the Revolution for France and the world. "This book is an up-to-date survey of the French Revolution and Napoleonic era that introduces readers to the origins and events of this turbulent period in French history, and historians' interpretations of these events. Fully updated and revised, it covers women's role in the Revolution, the struggles over race and slavery, a new emphasis on the populist element in revolutionary politics and an expanded discussion of the historiography of the era. Supported by learning objectives, critical thinking questions and suggestions for further reading, this is the perfect introduction to the French Revolution for students of French and European History in the late eighteenth century." --Provided by publisher __A Short History of the French Revolution__